REIGN SS

It seems a few (a lot), lol, of you feel the How-To section could be more organized, I've recommended the addition of Thread Prefixes to any thread created in the how-to section and a modification to the current threads to include a prefix, this is the list I came up with. Please feel free to make any suggestions/adjustment. But remember, something like this less is more, you don't want to get to micro-managed or it may be difficult for people to select the correct category.

Appearance
2.2 Suspension
2.4 Suspension
2.0 LSJ Suspension
2.0 LNF Suspension
General Suspension
Wheels/Tires
2.0 LSJ Engine
2.0 LNF Engine
2.4 LE5 Engine
2.2 L61 Engine
2.2 LAP Engine
All Engines
Exhaust
Detailing
Electrical
Interior
Other/Misc

Pyros777

iTrader: (4)

Hmm, aside from having clear visual indicators next to each topic (prefixes are usually colored right?), this system should also help when searching.

For instance, someone who wants to install an intake on their LSJ would do the following:

1.) Go to https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/search.php
2.) Enter "Intake" in the keywords field, and select "Search Titles Only" from the dropdown.
3.) Select the How-To forum from the "Search in Forum" field.
4.) Select the "2.0 LSJ Engine" prefix from the "Find threads with prefix" section.
5.) Click "Search now"

That would produce results that ONLY include intake topics related to the LSJ.

It would REALLY help if some poor soul went back to day one and assigned prefixes to every thread in the how-to section. I might volunteer to help if the workload were distributed among enough people.

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

I think maybe each Trim should have their own sub categories
For Example:

2.0 LSJ Engine
-Appearance
-Suspension
-Wheels/Tires
-Exhaust
-Detailing
-Electrical
-Interior
2.0 LNF Engine
-Appearance
-Suspension
-Wheels/Tires
-Exhaust
-Detailing
-Electrical
-Interior
2.4 LE5 Engine
-Appearance
-Suspension
-Wheels/Tires
-Exhaust
-Detailing
-Electrical
-Interior
2.2 L61 Engine
-Appearance
-Suspension
-Wheels/Tires
-Exhaust
-Detailing
-Electrical
-Interior
2.2 LAP Engine
-Appearance
-Suspension
-Wheels/Tires
-Exhaust
-Detailing
-Electrical
-Interior

This way there is absolutely no way that there can be any kind of confusion.
Also there should be some kind of guideline for titles that people absolutely have to follow to post a how to.

CobaltLs505

iTrader: (5)

I like this idea^

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

Another thing we could do is require pictures. If there aren't pics in the How-to then tell them Its a no go and tell them to fix the thread or delete it.
Another thing is if someone offers another how to we could make a poll for the people of CSS.net to vote on which one is better. if the new one is chosen then close and delete the previous one and put the new one up.

riko540

Do we really need to separate aach section? If you're going to bother doing that I think it would be better to just add a how-to section into each tech section then. Thoughts?

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

Well yea add a how to to each trim level then have sub forums for organization. trust me with the way people are on here this will be better...IMO

BPacak

i likey, site is starting to turn around wooooo

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

which one do you like?

REIGN SS

Since I began monitering the howto's any without pictures do not get approved.

This many categories could cause more confussion than help, for example a how-to on installing a catback using a 2.4, but its really the same reguardless of the car but you may not know to search for 2.2 info in the 2.0 or 2.4, the major differences are in the engines and maybe suspension. There is a such thing as over categorizing,

Just my opinion.

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

I understand. It's complicated because this could be easier when they have their own how to's on their specific car type, but I completely understand where you are coming from also.

riko540

That's what I was trying to say. Just put a How to catagory under each tech section instead of breaking it down for each individual trim. For example each of the engines will get a how-to for basic bolt-ons, tuning would get a how-to (Not to sure if its really needed though), a section for advanced modifications, so on and so forth.

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

Sorry, I'm not understanding how you guys are picturing this.

REIGN SS

Whenever you create a thread there will be a dropdown box with a list of categories, you select it, title it, and do your thread thing. Now when you want to search the howto section you can look for the color coded prefix, or search the section for a specific prefix. Obviously since the threads are Moderated Approval we can verify the correct prefix is used. I wish I wasn't on my phone so I could show you with pictures how it would look.

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

I think I understand what you're saying...like keep the How To section but put a prefix for what tech its for?

riko540

That makes sense. But what about all the current how-to's how would those get a prefix? I assume the moderators could tag them with the appropriate ones?

kidcrash603

iTrader: (2)

My suggestion is to use sticky "locator" threads.

The INITIAL work is the hardest, since it requires going through all of the existing how-to's and sorting them, but once the sticky threads are created, maintaining it would be easy.

How to's need to be approved anyways, so when one would get submitted, the moderator would review it, approve it, and then add the link for that thread to the appropriate "locator" thread. It's really only one added step.

Sticky threads could be as simple as:

Interior
Exterior
wheels/tires
drivetrain
electronic/audio

If you wanted to go into more detail, you could, but not really needed.

Doing it this way, there wouldn't need to be any major changes to how the "how to" section is actually setup. The search would work the same way and besides the initial setup, would be very easy to keep up.

To clarify how it would work, you would go to the how to area, and there would be those 5 sticky threads on top. If you wanted an interior mod, you would click on the interior sticky, and all the how to threads that involve interior, would be listed there, with a link to each thread.

REIGN SS

Correct, how to section stays but everything gets a prefix so you can search them.

Yes, I/A Mod will have to go through and add prefixes to previous threads, which i can do...

REIGN SS

The initial work would be a PITA adding prefixes, but will be much less work than updating stickies all over the forum all the time in the long run... and lets face it, most people dont look at stickies, lol

kidcrash603

iTrader: (2)

Maybe you aren't understanding what I'm trying to describe but from what I can tell, my suggestion would be the least amount of work of all the suggestions here....

You already have to review and approve a new how to.... is it THAT much more work to copy the new thread address, and paste it into the appropriate sticky?

No need for changes to the "new thread" menu, not reliant on how it's titled, and only 5 or so sticky's that won't clutter up the site.

Here is an example from a demolition derby site I used to be a member of. They use these locator threads so people can find events in their area.
http://srt.suddenlaunch.com/index.cg...num=1268774806

REIGN SS

Thread prefixes is a feature built into vb, it just needs to be enabled. After that the thread creator will categorize it, so there wont be any additional work to approving the thread like there would be to copy/pasting links to stickies. Its all one step instead of 2 or 3 steps using stickies.

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

I'll help if necessary.

Robb M.

I am not sure, but this kind of seems like maybe sort of similar to what you guys are thinking of.

This was created on AcuraZine in the 3rd Gen TL forum, it's a pretty great resource...

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553557

RKRamos

iTrader: (11)

I don't see it ?

REIGN SS

The how-to section would basically look like this:


And you could search the section by title, content, or prefix...